I am taking my 17 year old daughter to Clearwater Florida for an extended week-end in 2 weeks. we will arrive on friday late and have Sat and sunday free before leaving Moday.Does anyone have suggestions on things to do or see that would interest a 17 year old kid that knows everything..?????

Thanks
daffy

This is one of the top beaches in the world:

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/15_Sand_Key.htm

The Beaches no question. Try not to be confused by our thick floridian accents, just ask us to repeat ourselves.

Back-up if weather is poor:
Florida Aquarium & International Plaza, Tampa, 30 minutes away
http://www.flaquarium.org/Exhibits/
http://www.shopinternationalplaza.com/

Like art ? Salvador Dali Museum and Art Museum, both St. Petersburg, 30 minutes
http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org/
http://www.fine-arts.org/
The downtown waterfront area of St. Pete is lovely.

Clearwater has great beaches.
Want more variety ? Check out nearby Honeymoon & Caladesi Island (ferry). If down in St. Pete check out Fort DeSoto. http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/CaladesiIsland/
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_Desoto.htm

Watch out for the Zombies.

Mucho thanks---we will be staying at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort... so we will be on the beach.

Is Sarasota too far to drive ???maybe see the Ringling Museum???
We will have a rental car
She may well be very happy to stay at the resort--and Dine out---

thanks
daffy

If I were you,I would put more miles on the sandals than the tires.From a half mile North to a half mile South of Pier 60 during the sunny days,it has been "Spring Break"since....forever,kinda like old Panama City Beach(LA) with a tad less neck of red social behavior(or maybe not).For eats,be sure to hit "Frenchy's"for real grouper and seafood.Libations are also on the menu for Pops.As far as the Florida accents are concerned,the last 10 or so marine projects behind the hotels/motels we have done had accents ranging from Western European to Asian without a "Y'all" in there anywhere.Enjoy.

Daffy,

room 538 of the Sheraton Sand Key is infamous.

check out kermit week's "roar 'n soar" nov 8/9 if that is your weekend--cars; boats; planes; races; just terrific!! all on I-4 near orlando--"fantasy of Flight" museum is great--check his websites--dmd

There is also Busch Gardens if your into theme parks and roller coasters. If you go just south of Clearwater Beach to Johns Pass you can take the Dolphin watch boat out or take the Jungle Queen Riverboat dinner cruise. Johns Pass also has some great shops and restaurants. Ft Desoto beach is also nice to walk along, voted #1 beach in the country a few years back. North is things like Tarpon Springs and the famous sponge docks and Mermaids in Weekie Watchy. You can also go swim with the manatees in Crystal River.

Mucho thanks---I will print this and give her the ideas/ suggestions---Boat ride sounds great---
she will probably want to shop for girl stuff

why is this room 538 -INFAMOUS

daffy

room 538: Jim Bakker + Jessica Hahn.

Fort Harrison Hotel (now a scientology bldg), Keith Richards wrote "Satisfaction", 1965.

Great seafood & Greek food, as others suggest, near the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. I like Casa Tina in Dunedin for Mexican.

Siesta Key, Cigars at Ybor City, Manatees in Homasassa Springs, The Old Ringling Mansion and Circus Museum in Sarasota~ http://www.ringling.org/CadMansion.aspx ~Better than you may think.

My wife and I go to that neck of the woods once or twice a year. We stay at that hotel sometimes and enjoy it. Give the Clearwater Marine Aquarium a look - it's not as commercially polished as the one in Tampa, but it has some interesting things to see. It's more of a rescue facility for marine life in the area that's open to visitors. It's also home to Winter, a dolphin who lost her tail after getting caught in a rope. We were fortunate to spend some time playing with her with the staff on one trip there - that's the kind of place it is. They have boat tours of the area as well. You can check them out on line to see if it's something you and your daughter want to do. It's quite close to your hotel.

Doesn't anyone go to Crabby Bill's anymore?

quote:

For eats,be sure to hit "Frenchy's"for real grouper and seafood

+1 Do not miss Frenchies Saltwater Cafe. Grouper burger and mussles....

Archie,I,being an old fart St.Pete native,was at the Rolling Stones concert at the old Jack Russell stadium in 1965 when I was 16.The stage was set up on the infield and didn't even go from first base to third or second base to home plate.The seats were about half full(2000 or so people)and after a few songs,the fans went wild and the Stones fled for their lives.In my life I had never seen people(the band)with such a case of "Funeral Parlor Palor".A month before the "normal to Florida" complexioned Beach Boys played on same teeny stage in their blue and white striped shirts and white pants.That was in their pre-hippie "Pet Sounds",Manson affiliated days.The End

Say hi to my uncle for me!

Every time I read a "going to fla" post I want to run the poster to "off the beaten path"
Clw.beeeeech the same.

I grew up in pinellas cty.My grandparents owned a beach resort on clw.beeeech.(prudohmes)
Skip pier 60..go to the water tower due north to palm pavillion.
Skip frenchy's...its a yuppie tourist trap now.
If you do go then get the fried grouper cheecks.
Your staying at the sheraton sand key.
Hell son,I wouldn't even cross the bridge
Just stay there in johns pass.That is the last strip in all pinellas beaches that is real(except a park )
You have australian pines still on the shore.
We used to pull kids stuck in the sand there for 5$.
Thats the last strip of limerock hippie houses left.The rest of the beaches are just traps for canadian seasonals.
Stay where your at,enjoy.Go to gators with your family in johns pass village.
The only reason everything across from gators is still there is because Agnes Rice still owns all of it
If anything just drive south..slowly..stop and eat where it looks good for you and your family.

email me for more info.

To hell with Gators,go South to Dockside Daves in St.Pete Beach or breakfast at Seahorse in Pass A Grille.

Cool, we stayed at Sheraton Sand Key last year. I didn't know that was the Baker/Hahn hotel!
Nice and relaxing, pool a bit small. Good poolside drinks. The Sheraton's club sammich is good!
Nice looong stretch of sand to the bay.
Eat at Island Way Grill in Clearwater. Delicious!